Is it ok to have no alcohol at our reception?

I have gone to close to about 25+ weddings in my life... ( I am 30) and none of them were DRY.

Never heard of it until I joined WW.

Okay everyone is saying that they went to dry weddings and it was "fine".

Do you want your guests to refer to your wedding as "fine"?

No, people who want a cocktail at a wedding are not alcoholics who need to "re-evaluate their priorities."

Of course guests go to weddings to celebrate the couple. For someone to suggest that they don't, and they only go to weddings to get drunk is insane.

The bottom line is, most people like to drink on the weekends, and it's a bummer when people shell out money to attend a wedding and then they feel a bit of disappointment when they get to the event and there's no alcohol.

Don't be cheap. Because that's what 99 % of these threads root from.

I'm one of the oddballs here. FH and I are having a full open bar but I do not get the opinion or etiquette rule that being a good host/hostess to your guests absolutely entails serving them alcohol and that you absolutely have to do so. Would I prefer liquor? Yes, but I would NEVER leave directly after a wedding because the couple was having a dry reception. I'd feel honored enough that I was selected as a guest and provided a free meal. Again, I'm obviously in the minority opinion that doesn't feel entitled to be served liquor when I attend someone's wedding. I feel you do whatever works for you and you should know whether or not this is going to work for your guests. I'd be re-evaluating close relationships if someone declined my invite because I wasn't God forbid serving them alcohol. I do agree a brunch or early afternoon reception would work best but do not change your venue if you feel it's perfect.

I would leave after dinner if there was no alcohol

I am in the same situation as far as the venue goes. I chose to have my wedding at 2 with appetizers, cake, and punch. We will have a sparkling cider toast. Some of FH family will probably decline over the alcohol or leave after the ceremony, but that is expected. Like. Others have said it is more acceptable to have no alcohol at 2 in the afternoon than at night. Good luck!

Yeah sorry I would fine a new venue because it is not perfect.

I eliminated MANY venues for other reasons. Alcohol would have been one of them for sure.

Is it that they won't allow alcohol there at all? What is their reason? Just wondering. Will they let you serve food there? What type of reception are you planning to host? If the venue is perfect in every other way, I would stick to it regardless, and it sounds like that's your plan no matter what. I think that's the right mindset, but hardly anyone on here will agree with that. I wouldn't mention it on the invitation as I see that as being in poor taste but that's just me. Maybe mention it on your wedding website if you have one and feel that it's completely necessary to do so. But if someone is going to skip out on your wedding entirely or even partially because there isn't alcohol, they sound like douchebags anyway. I would never miss out on a friend or family members wedding or reception just because there wasn't booze.

I've been to one DRY wedding and thankfully I knew ahead of time because me, part of the bridal party and a group spent a good chunk of time in the parking lot tailgating.

The best analogy I can make on this subject:

I don't eat meat because I don't like it, so I'm having a completely vegan reception.

Normally this is a hot topic, and I see that some people are very against not having alcohol. I agree to properly host guests, having an open bar is needed. That being said, you have a chosen what you and your FH feel is a perfect venue, it just doesn't allow alcohol. In this instance, no alcohol is fine, but I would recommend that you make it a cake and punch, or early reception if possible.

I am going to reiterate what others have said since it was the first thing that popped into my head after reading the post. This is not the perfect venue if it doesn't allow alcohol, even you said it was a negative and that your family will be disappointed.

The reception is a thank you for your guests and you clearly stated that you know their preference would be to enjoy an alcoholic drink. However you are not caring about their comfort and are only looking at your wallet (saying it is free and you are only giving a donation indicates it is a major reason you are picking it)

Since you don't care about what they want, at least make your wedding a cake and punch reception and save yourself from being upset when people leave after eating. Don't have any expectations of a big party atmosphere because you simple will not get that.

And be prepared for people to pregame and tailgate and try to sneak alcohol in because you will have a few that do that.

If you have to ask if no alcohol is okay, then you know it is NOT okay.... Please use the search feature of this website before you ask any more questions.

@morgan - good luck to you...

Unpopular opinion: If a guest declines your wedding invitation because there won't be alcohol, then they have a problem.

Both my FH and I have families that do not drink, therefore we won't have any alcohol either. If people aren't going to come just because they can't have alcohol, they should not be at the wedding anyway! It is supposed to be a day about you and your Hubby!! Also, not having alcohol can be cheaper

^ examples of terrible reasons to not have alcohol

I frankly don't care. I have a two glasses of wine a night, limit. Since I need to lose weight, alcohol would be the first thing I'd cut out. I'd rather attend a reception with fabulous food and no alcohol, than one with sub-par food and alcohol, which often seems to be the case.

We had the same problem, our church has an outreach Center where it would have been cheaper for us and we could of invited more people. But because we couldn't have alcohol we picked a different reception place that wasn't as big.

@Sarah, people aren't alcoholics because they want a glass of wine with dinner or want some alcohol at a party that they spent lots of money to go to. It makes them normal people. Yes, there are some people who don't drink for various reasons but the majority of people do.

I don't think the OP is coming back.

I didn't read the comments because I don't need to.

No. It's not okay. Most adults would like a glass of wine.

Find a new venue.